First stop is Urquhart Castle. It sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.
There is a new visitor's center which blocks the view so we look for the best angle to take pictures.
Ben enjoys the view.
Once on our way, Greg, our funny, energetic guide and driver, spots a baby "hairy coo'" and stops the bus so we can all take pictures.
Greg does the Loch Ness dance.
The beautiful Loch Ness.
Next stop was Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) led the Highlanders in the doomed final Jacobite uprising, and changed Scotland forever.
The Jacobites—the majority of them Highland Scots, supported the claim of James Francis Edward Stuart ("The Old Pretender") to the throne; the government army, under the Duke of Cumberland, younger son of the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II, supported his father's cause. It too included Highland Scots, as well as Scottish Lowlanders and English troops. The aftermath of the battle was brutal and earned the victorious general the nickname "Butcher" Cumberland. Charles Edward Stuart eventually left Britain and went to Rome, never to attempt to take the throne again.
The English were 8,000 strong with 50 killed & 254 wounded by the end of the battle.
The Jacobites were 7,000 strong with 1,250 killed & 1,000 wounded.
The Clava cairn is a type of Bronze Age circular chamber tomb cairn, named after the group of 3 cairns at Balnuaran of Clava, to the east of Inverness in Scotland. There are about 50 cairns of this type in an area round about Inverness.
Carbisdale Castle was built by the Duchess of Sutherland and is now used as a youth hostel, operated by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. It is located on a hill above the Kyle of Sutherland in the region of Ross&Cromarty in the Highlands.
The castle is said to have several ghosts. It has been investigated by paranormal experts with varying results. The appearances include a lady in white, fallen soldiers of the Battle of Carbisdale and the sounds of a piper. The Ghost of the Castles Gardener, The Hooded Gardener, is said to roam the grounds looking for his lost daughter, he often haunts girls that are the same age as his own daughter (15); he has been seen dressed in black with a black hood with only part of his face shown.
The Castle has a large collection of art with some pieces dating back to the year 1680.
There are 19 Italian marble statues in the Lower Gallery of amazing beauty, dating back to around 1857.
There are nice views from the castle.
That evening we all head out to the local pub for a pint. There is only one place out here, and it is for sale if anyone is interested.
At the pub, the girls put on some traditional outfits.
And the guys get a kilt.
A bag piper shows up later in the evening.
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